Short was said to be seeking a long-term deal with the team since last offseason, worth around $17 million per season.

Short and the Panthers will now have until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term extension. The 28-year-old is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the National Football League and will likely be looking for a deal somewhere along the lines of what Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox got in his blockbuster extension a year ago.

The move was expected, with coach Ron Rivera conceding earlier this month that Carolina would likely need to designate Short, who finished last season as the NFL's third-highest graded interior defender. The last time they used their franchise tag, they eventually rescinded it, allowing All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman to hit free agency and sign with the Washington Redskins. He's extremely disruptive and hauled in 17 sacks from 2015-16.

Short, selected in the second-round of the 2013 draft, has 22 career sacks, 179 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 5 fumble returns.

The former Purdue Boilermaker has started in 41 of 64 games played with the Panthers.

Hours after the Arizona Cardinals placed the franchise tag on pass rusher Chandler Jones the Carolina Panthers opted to use their tag as well.